Tufts University

 

Off-Campus Housing
Resource Center

Resources
A Safety and Housing Code Checklist
Inspecting the Property
Moving In
A Typical House in Medford/Somerville
Rights and Responsibilities

Questions and Answers for Parents (pdf)

 
Post a Listing
View Listings

Contact Information

Office Hours:
Mon    9:00 - 3:00

Tues   9:00 - 3:00
Wed   9:00 - 3:00
Thurs  9:00 - 3:00
Fri      9:00 - 3:00

**Or call for an appointment to meet with a staff member

Location: 

South Hall 1st floor, across from the Residential Life & Learning Office

 

Contact Information
Phone:
617-627-5319
Fax:
617-627-5305
Email: och@tufts.edu
OCH Resource Center,

Tufts University
South Hall,

Lower Campus Road
Medford, MA 02155

 

Resource Guide



Visiting the House or Apartment
(the following points are as advised by Georgetown University)

  • Make an Appointment and Arrive on Time - Landlords usually do not appreciate perspective tenants arriving unannounced, and you want to be assured that you will be able to see the property when you get there. Also, verify the information with the landlord over the phone first.
  • Be Presentable - Landlords want to rent to individuals who look as if they would make good tenants. Proper attire may improve your chances when there are several applicants. Treat your viewing like a job interview.
  • Be Persistent - A prospective landlord may take your name and say he/she will get back to you after reviewing all applications. Check back and remind the landlord that you are still interested.
  • Carry Your Checkbook - If you find a place you like, be prepared to put some money down to hold it. Landlords often ask for a deposit. Make sure you get a receipt for the deposit. The receipt should specify whether the deposit is refundable if you do not rent the place and how the deposit will be used if you do rent the place, e.g., as part of the security deposit or the first month's rent. Also carry with you a list of personal references and their contact information with you.
  • Timing - Start looking early, and give yourself at least a few weeks to find housing. The time in which students start looking for housing changes every year, depending on the market and the availability of housing for the next year. If you want a house for the following school year, it is advisable to start looking for available houses in the fall-winter of the year before. Landlords who usually rent to students may be willing to have you sign a lease in advance.

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Online Listing Services & Newsgroups

Online listings can provide many available apartment listings and have other helpful information for prospective tenants on their sites.  Below are several links to sites that might be of use in your search.

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Home Stores

   For those on a tighter budget:

  • Salvation Army - 483 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
  • Good Will - located on Elm St in Davis Square
  • Bernie & Phyl's Clearance/Bedding  in Everett & Weymouth

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Area Maps

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Newspapers

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Getting  Help*

Housing Discrimination:
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
(617) 994-6000

Licensing Issues of Real Estate Agents / Salespersons:
Division of Registration 
Information: Real Estate Board (617) 727-2373
Complaints: Complaint Inquiries (617) 727-7407

Lead Paint Removal:
Department of Public Health
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
(617) 624-5757; Toll Free: (800) 532-9571

Face-to-Face Mediation:
For the program in your area call:
Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline
(617) 727-8400

Homelessness Prevention and Mediation for Low-Income Tenants and Their Landlords:
Department of Housing and Community Development
For the Homelessness Intercept Program in your area call (617)
573-1100

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Child Care Resources

Childcare licenses are given by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care after an assessment of a program's health, safety, and education qualifications. For further information about criteria for state licensure, click here. If you have questions about a specific child care provider, you can find out how to contact your local EEC office by finding your city or town here.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children has an alternative set of criteria for accrediting child care facilities in addition to state licensure. The NAEYC accreditation is voluntary. It assesses child care programs based on the education and health of the children, the experience and credentials of the teaching staff, the leadership and management of the administration, and the strength of family and community partnerships. For more information about accreditation, call the national office at 800-424-2460.

Here are some helpful websites for organizations, national and local, that provide resources and advice concerning child care.

Child Care Resource Center, Inc.
"CCRC works to ensure that children thrive. We promote the care and education of all children through advocacy and programs that serve families, professionals and communities.
CCRC serves parents, early care and education professionals and employers  with a broad spectrum of dependant care resource and referral programs, training, information and support services, and builds partnerships between community members and policy-makers to ensure the health and well being of children."-CCRC website
Use this site to find information about different kinds of day care, summer camps, care for children with disabilities, financial assistance, and more.
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care
"EEC is responsible for all licensing of early education and care programs, providing financial assistance for child care services to low-income families, information and referral services, parenting support for all families, and providing professional development opportunities for staff in the early education and care field."--EEC website
This website has information about financial assistance and grants for parents and families throughout the state. There is also information about regulations and policies for certified daycare in Massachusetts.
National Association for the Education of Young Children
"Whether you're looking for a quality child care program, preschool, or school for your child, or you're interested in activities you can do at home to encourage your child's development, NAEYC can help!"--NAEYC website
Also includes list of NAEYC accredited schools and day cares.
Head Start
"The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school." -- OSH website
Head Start's website lists resources and programs for parents of preschoolers.

Tri-City
"The Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. is a multi-service, anti-poverty agency serving the cities of Malden, Medford, Everett, and surrounding communities." --Tri-City website
Tri-City provides services in "children and family services," "advocacy and community services," and "energy services." Their website lists programs for children and families in the area.
BostonCentral
This website includes a checklist for finding quality daycare, information about different types of daycare, and links to a variety of resources for families.

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Lead Paint Information For Families

There is a lead law in Massachusetts that requires the deleading or interim control of lead hazards existing in homes built before 1978 where children under six reside.  Owners are responsible for complying with the Lead Law and paying the costs to delead.  This includes owners of rental property as well as owners living in their own single-family or multi-family home. 

Property owners can contact the Massachusetts Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to get a list of licensed lead inspectors to check for lead paint.  Tenants with children under age six can call their local Lead Poisoning Prevention Program or Health Department and ask for a free lead inspection or determination. 

For more information about lead paint and the Massachusetts Lead Law click on :  http://www.mass.gov/dph/clppp/ledtop10.htm

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Legal Services

To Obtain Legal Assistance:
Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Program
(617) 338-0500

Legal Services Programs for Low-Income Consumers:
Call the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
(617) 973-8787; Toll Free (888) 283-3757

Community Legal Services and Counseling Center
617-661-1010; Fax 617-661-3289

Greater Boston Legal Services
617-371-1234; Toll Free: 800-323-3205

Legal Advocacy and Resource Center
Administrative: 617-371-1123; Hotline: 617-603-1700

Volunteer Lawyers Project
617-423-0648

*This information taken from the Mass.gov Tenant Rights & Responsibilities page.

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Return to Off Campus Housing

 

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that the University assumes no responsibility for contracts/leases between individuals.  The Off-Campus Housing Resource Center is not responsible or liable for the consequences of any off-campus student housing arrangement.  In addition, Tufts does not endorse or sponsor any of the agencies, services, advertisements, properties or landlords included in this website.  The information is provided only as aids in your housing quest.

 

We welcome any comments and feedback.

 © 2007 Tufts University